Comments Off on Red States vs. Blue States: Which Are More Eco-Friendly?

Consider that the most environmentally friendly states are Vermont, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington and Connecticut, while the lowest are Oklahoma, North Dakota, West Virginia, Montana and Wyoming. Notice a pattern? It turns out that political…

This handsome timber cabin nestled in the foothills of Vermont’s Green Mountains stands out from the pack with its asymmetrical roofs and weathered, recycled timber cladding. Richmond-based Birdseye Design designed Woodshed, a cabin that infuses contemporary elements into the traditional woodshed vernacular. The cabin’s Douglas fir and pine cladding were repurposed from snow fencing and horse corrals. Set on a clearing on a steeply sloping and heavily wooded site, the Woodshed in Pomfret blends into its forested surroundings with its timber-clad facade. Conceived as a guesthouse and entertainment space for the main residence down the road, the residential project takes cues from the iconic woodshed found in the Vermont landscape. The main building comprises two asymmetric gabled roof volumes connected via a central entryway. A small auxiliary garage sits off to the side. Related: Origami-like alpine cabin brings contemporary style to Chile’s mountains “The western, public elevation presents the continuous, wood textured wall that evokes the expressive, scrim wall of a traditional woodshed,” write the architects. “The project purposefully projects a minimal familiar elevation to the non-view, public street side and an engaging, contemporary open elevation to the private hillside.” Large expanses of glazing wrap around the east facade to frame views of the landscape. Exterior terraces expand the footprint of the home to the outdoors. + Birdseye Design Via ArchDaily Images via Birdseye Design

Two tiny endangered monkeys died at a Louisiana zoo last week after being left out in the cold overnight, as temps dipped into the 30s F. A third monkey survived the exposure, and the zoo caretaker responsible for the deaths has since resigned. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling for a probe into the deaths to determine if the incident is an indication of wider-spread problems at the zoo. Read the rest of PETA urges probe of endangered monkeys’ death at zoo Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: cotton top tamarins , cotton top tamarins killed , Louisiana zoo , monkey deaths , monkey zoo deaths , monkeys killed , monkeys killed at Louisiana zoo , monkeys zoo killed , People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals , PETA , United States Department of Agriculture , usda

Comments Off on 6 Emergency Essentials for Surviving 72 Hours Without Power

The motto “always be prepared” is a good one to keep in mind, but one might not understand the importance of that until immersed in a situation that one hasn’t prepared properly for at all. With climate change wreaking havoc on the planet, superstorms , floods, tornadoes, and droughts are becoming more frequent, and it’s not uncommon for people to be without power for a few days . Although some people might feel a bit paranoid or weird about keeping a supply of certain items in the house “just in case”, it’s always better to have them and not need them, than vice-versa. Read on to learn about the supplies that everyone should keep on hand if the power goes out for a few days. Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Read the rest of 6 Emergency Essentials for Surviving 72 Hours Without Power Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: 72 hours , blizzard , camping , camping food , camping supplies , earthquake , emergency , emergency kit , first aid , first aid kit , flood , Hurricane , natural disaster , power failure , power outage , preparedness kit , prepper , prepping , prepping bag , prepping kit , snowstorm , storm , survival kit , without power

Burlington, Vermont, a city of 42,000 people, is now powered by 100 percent renewable energy sources – most of the time, at least. The city set itself this target around a decade ago, and recently completed the transition to renewables when the Burlington Electric Department bought a 7.4-megawatt hydroelectric system on the Winooski River near the city’s border. The hydro scheme joined the city’s existing wind-powered systems and a biomass facility, which processes leftover woodchips from the local logging industry. The only time Burlington may have to draw on nonrenewable sources from now on is if there is not enough wind. Read the rest of Burlington, Vermont Now Runs on 100% Renewable Energy Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “wind power” , 100 percent renewable energy , 100% renewable energy , biomass , Burlington , Burlington Vermont wind power , hydroelectricity , renewable power , renewable power cities , renewable wind energy , vermont , Vermont renewable energy

The Wood and Steel Bridges bench is a green furniture lover’s dream design. Handcrafted in Vermont, this industrial-style piece is made of reclaimed wood and custom metal legs, bringing together an elegant design and a rugged construction. The bench has been hand-rubbed with a non-toxic finish to protect the wood and the environment. This piece was a collaborative work between three generations of furniture-crafters at Vermont Studio Woods . + Vermont Studio Woods The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat ? Send us a tip by following this link . Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing! Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “green furniture” , handcrafted wood furniture , reclaimed wood furniture , vermont studio woods , wood and steel bridges bench , wood furniture